As we predicted on Truck & Bus News earlier today the deal has been done for International Trucks to be reintroduced into Australia with CNH Industrial, the parent company of Iveco to become the distributor for the venerable old brand in this country.
The joint announcement was made today by CNH Industrial and Navistar executives confirming that CNH Industrial will be the sole distributor of International Trucks in Australian.
Today’s announcement ends months of speculation and follows T&B News breaking the story back in March, that Iveco was likely to become the distributor for the reborn brand.
The industry has been waiting to hear the possible framework under which International would return to Australia after Navistar announced at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show, that it would be returning the brand to this country .
Operational aspects of the arrangement are still being finalised by Navistar and Iveco with several modesl being evaluated, including the ProStar, which the joint statement says will ensure that the International brand is strongly promoted and supported from the outset.
The return of International to Australia and its tie-in with Iveco and its Dandenong facility in Melbourne, marks a homecoming to the location where thousands of International commercial vehicles were manufactured and or assembled from 1952. The DNA still runs deep today with the current Iveco ACCO range sharing its lineage with earlier ACCOs developed under International.
Navistar Sr. VP Distribution and Export, Mark Belisle, said the company had taken extensive due diligence in evaluating and pursuing the best course of action for the return of IInternational Trucks to Australia.
“Despite not having sold here for a number of years, ‘Inter’ is still entrenched in the Australian market and remembered fondly by fleet operators, this enthusiasm for the marque was highlighted at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show with both the ProStar and LoneStar display trucks capturing show-goers’ imaginations,” Mr. Belisle said.
“Of course the return of a brand to Australia that is so well regarded, deserved a detailed plan befitting of its standing here, and that meant establishing a partnership with a company that was well equipped to assist in properly relaunching in the local market”.
“In CNH Industrial we’ve found a partner with the necessary credentials and industry experience to help Navistar meet its goals here. The close history between CNH Industrial’s Iveco brand and International is not lost on us either, it adds an element of emotion to the partnership”.
“We look forward to the months ahead and bringing some exciting new International vehicles to market.”
In commenting on the agreement, CNH Industrial Executive Managing Director – ANZ, Ray Osgood, said he was extremely pleased to have established a partnership with Navistar for the distribution rights.
“International had a long and successful history in Australia and dominated the commercial vehicle market for several decades – there remains a lot of passion for the brand here today, and it still has a lot of equity in this market,” Mr. Osgood said.
“CNH Industrial is extremely excited at the prospect of partnering with Navistar in reintroducing the iconic International Trucks to Australia. Our operational experience with Iveco and the obvious synergies and history between the two brands will provide notable efficiencies as the International range is introduced in the months ahead.
“Furthermore, we see the arrangement to be mutually beneficial in that the International product range primarily consisting of conventional cabs, will compliment Iveco’s strengths in cab-over truck models.”
International first opened a subsidiary in Australia back in 1912 and started truck manufacturing and assembly at South Melbourne in 1949, opening the Dandenong plant now owned by Iveco in 1952. Iveco bought the operation in 1992 and continued to sell International trucks through until 2008 before the brand withdrew. 2017 will mark the return of the famous name plate.
